Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Humorously vulgar; dealing with sexual matters in a comical or coarse way: "bawdy" describes humor, language, or entertainment that is explicitly sexual in a way that is intended to be funny rather than serious or romantic.

2. Noun:

   • Lewd or obscene talk or writing; material of a ribald nature: "bawdy" refers to the genre or content itself that is characterized by humorously indecent subject matter.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:
  • The comedian told a series of bawdy jokes that had the audience roaring with laughter.
  • Shakespeare's plays often include bawdy humor that appealed to the common people.
• Noun:
  • The book is a study of medieval bawdy.
  • The pub was filled with the sound of laughter and bawdy.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Historical/Literary Context: "Bawdy" often describes a traditional, earthy, and unsentimental type of humor found in folk songs, old plays, and certain historical periods (e.g., Elizabethan theater). It implies a lack of malice or true obscenity, focusing instead on ribald fun.
• Tone: The word often carries a tone of affectionate or nostalgic tolerance, suggesting the material is cheeky or raucous rather than deeply offensive or pornographic.

Variants and Related Words

• Bawdry (noun): An archaic or formal synonym for "bawdy" as a noun, meaning obscene talk or writing.
  • The manuscript contained passages of ancient bawdry.
• Bawdily (adverb): In a bawdy manner.
  • He commented bawdily on the situation.
• Bawdiness (noun): The quality of being bawdy.
  • The bawdiness of the material was typical for its time.

Synonyms

• Ribald: Humorously coarse or indecent.
• Racy: Slightly indecent or suggestive, often in an exciting way.
• Lewd: Crudely and offensively sexual (can be more negative than "bawdy").
• Off-color: In poor taste, especially regarding sexual matters.
• Salacious: Having an undue interest in sexual matters (more prurient and less humorous than "bawdy").

Antonyms

• Decorous: In good taste, proper.
• Prudish: Excessively proper or modest.
• Chaste: Pure, modest, abstaining from sexual activity.
• Genteel: Polite, refined, respectable.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Bawdy house: An archaic term for a brothel.
  • The historical district was once known for its bawdy houses.
• Bawdy humor: The standard phrase to describe this genre of comedy.
  • The film relies heavily on slapstick and bawdy humor.

Adjective

1. humorously vulgar
   • bawdy songs
   • off-color jokes
   • ribald language

Noun

1. lewd or obscene talk or writing
   • it was smoking-room bawdry
   • they published a collection of Elizabethan bawdy